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Check in monthly for updates on DVSN programs, services, & events. Plus, information & commentary about domestic violence issues, news, and related subjects.

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September 2026: The Manosphere – What Is It & How It Effects Domestic & Gender-Based Violence

by DVSN | September 29, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Domestic violence is often correlated with violence against women and thought of as a “women’s issue”, when, in fact, people of any gender can be victims or abusers. Check out DVSN’s September 2024 blog post, “Male Victim of Domestic Violence: Distinct Challenge &...

July/August 2026: A Profile of Jacquelin Apsler – Two Decades of Drive, Collaboration, Open-Mindedness, & Humor

by DVSN | August 18, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

NOTE: This post differs from DVSN’s normal blog content in several ways. It is an extensive exploration of both professional accomplishments and quite personal details in the life of DVSN’s Executive Director, Jacquelin Apsler, who only agreed to this profile if it...

June 2026: The Detrimental Family Legacy of Intergenerational Abuse & Strategies for Disrupting the Cycle

by DVSN | June 16, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

The term “cycle of abuse” is often used to describe two different patterns or models that commonly occur in situations of domestic violence. The first, and probably most frequent, use of the term describes the “circular” cycle of phases in the dynamics between an...

May 2026: Beyond Survival – Perspectives on Self-Care from DVSN’s Support Group Facilitator

by DVSN | May 19, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Self-care is a popular term often associated with directing energy towards one’s own wellbeing and health, but the reality is that it can encompass as many different meanings as there are people who practice it. In the turbulence of life, it is natural to experience...

April 2026: The Complexities of Marital Rape – Laws, Perspectives, & Effects

by DVSN | April 21, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sexual assault is a particularly violating and traumatizing form of abuse. While sexual assault can take many forms, the term has come to be almost synonymous in some contexts with rape. While the common cultural image of rape...

March 2026: Abuser Archetypes: Categorizing Common Patterns

by DVSN | March 17, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Domestic violence is universal. Anyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, race, socio-economic status, or culture can be a victim or an abuser. While abuse, at its core, is about power and control, there are many different ways this can...

February 2026: Teen Dating Abuse 101

by DVSN | February 10, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

From child abuse to elder abuse, people of any age can experience domestic violence. When it comes to abuse by a romantic partner, one particularly vulnerable demographic is teenagers. People often have their first relationship around this stage of life, while they...

January 2026: A Deepening Understanding – New Staff Member Reflects on DVSN’s Advocate Training

by DVSN | January 20, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

DVSN provides a variety of programs and services, from direct services to clients to community outreach and education programs. One that serves both of those categories is our Volunteer Advocate Training. Typically held twice a year, this 40-hour intensive training...

December 2025: Courthouse Victim Safe Waiting Rooms – Importance & Impact

by DVSN | December 16, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Going to court for any reason can be daunting. For victims who may have to see their abuser or speak about their abuse in court, it can be even more so. DVSN has trained Court Support Advocates that can accompany clients to court to help them understand what is going...

November 2025: Bodily Harm & Beyond – The Complexities of Physical Abuse

by DVSN | November 17, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Upon hearing the term “domestic violence”, what first comes to most people’s minds is physical abuse. In fact, until MA Bill H.4744 added coercive control in September 2024, Massachusetts’ legal definition of domestic violence focused exclusively on physical abuse and...

February 2025: DVSN Discusses Navigating the Maze of Nonprofit Funding

[In June 2025, Deborah Maini, featured in this post, left her position as DVSN's Community Engagement & Philanthropy Specialist. Her tasks will be taken up by select staff and Board members, including the other two contributors to this post, to ensure the...

January 2025: First in the World – A Decade of Coercive Control Criminalization in Britain

[This post was originally written in January 2025 and information was added in February 2025 to include the Victim and Prisoners Act 2024 coming into effect.]Coercive control is a form of domestic violence that has long been in advocates’ vocabulary but is rarely seen...

December 2024: Chatting with a Chief – An Interview with Carlisle PD’s Chief Amendola

Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) has always had strong connections with local police departments. In fact, DVSN was started with seed money from a Department of Justice (DOJ) grant through the Concord Police Department. Acton PD quickly joined Concord,...

November 2024: Pet Abuse and the Link to Domestic Violence

Animal abuse and human abuse are connected in several different ways. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households have at least one pet and almost all see their pet as a family member. (Conversation, AWI) Protecting their companion animals is a strong desire for pet-owning...

October 2024: A Legal Leap Forward – MA’s New Coercive Control Law

On September 18, 2024, Bill H.4744, “An Act to Prevent Abuse and Exploitation”, went into effect in Massachusetts. This act updates and expands legal language about abuse. It also addresses new technology and its use in abusive behavior and sexual harassment. For...

September 2024: Male Victims of Domestic Violence – Distinct Challenges & Barriers to Disclosure and Support

Domestic violence is often seen as a gendered issue. Women have been subjugated by men throughout history, and men have used violence and coercive control to maintain power over them. To this day, the majority of abuse victims are women and perpetrators men. This is...

August 2024: Continuing Abuse Tactics – Post-Separation Legal Abuse & Parental Alienation

When a survivor of domestic violence is able to safely leave their abuser, there can be a feeling of great relief, that the horrible ordeal they have been experiencing is finally over. Unfortunately, that is often not the case. Even after victims are no longer living...

July 2024: An Editorial on Self-Neglect

While working on last month’s blog post on elder abuse, a topic came up that gave DVSN staff pause. Researching further, we found that, as an agency, we fundamentally disagree with how this topic is represented by some very prominent sources, including DVSN’s home...

June 2024: Elder Abuse – Distinct Challenges & Barriers to Support

Domestic violence can affect anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or age. Certain populations, however, face unique forms of abuse and barriers to support. One such population is older adults, one of the fastest growing demographics in the...

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